But Orwell projects a totalitarian state of scientific and technological advance. In , spectacular progress in the hard sciences has created the ability to engage in thought control. Anthem , on the other hand, shows that a prohibition of freedom results in a decline into primitive subsistence.
What is the fundamental philosophical conviction that leads Rand to the belief that a collectivist society is doomed to Dark Age backwardness? Her theory that progress and scientific knowledge are products of independent minds. Observe the unflagging curiosity of Equality 's intellect. Though forbidden, he dissects animals, melts metals, mixes acids, and raises a lightning rod. He explores and experiments, until finally, he discovers the "power of the sky.
We had been a good Street Sweeper and like all our brother Street Sweepers, save for our cursed wish to know. We looked too long at the stars at night, and at the trees and the earth. He possesses the soul, as well as the intellect, of a great scientist.
By virtue of this kind of unshakeable independence, Rand argues, humankind forges ahead, moving from ignorance to enlightenment. Many of society's great thinkers and innovators were persecuted in much the same way that Equality is.
For example, Socrates was executed for the originality of his moral principles. Galileo was threatened with torture by the Inquisition for daring to defend Copernicus, and his contemporary, Giordano Bruno, was burned at the stake. Charles Darwin was damned for originating, and John Scopes jailed for teaching, the theory of evolution. Robert Fulton was scorned, Henry Ford mocked, and Louis Pasteur reviled because of their inventions or new ideas. The court of social opinion has generally convicted freethinkers.
But by being freethinkers, the Equality s of the world are unconcerned about the evaluations of others. Free thought and action continue.
But when an innovator like Equality is caught in a political dictatorship that physically prevents him from researching, experimenting, or studying, then the creative mind is stifled.
But the mind must be left free to think and to act on its findings, which is the deepest principle lying at the heart of this story. In a free society, an original thinker like Equality is free to experiment and research, to invent and innovate, and to make scientific breakthroughs and technological advances.
This concept is why the world's freest countries have made so many discoveries and have achieved such a high standard of living. Science and progress require intellectual freedom.
A totalitarian state stifles the freedom of mind that such progress depends on. A worldwide totalitarian state, as depicted in Anthem , leaves the mind with no refuge. Thinkers like Equality have no place to go.
They are trapped in a system that stifles freethinking. Rand argues that a society in which the mind is stifled will not merely fail to progress, it will regress, losing all the advances that. In defending the freedom of the mind as a necessity of human survival and prosperity, Anthem is a precursor to Ayn Rand's major novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.
All of these works feature some aspect of this theme. Anthem shows the collapse into Dark-Age barbarism that results when the mind is stifled. The Fountainhead shows that the independent minds responsible for progress and prosperity are generally opposed by their societies, those most likely to benefit from innovation.
The word "We" is as lime poured over men, which sets and hardens to stone, and crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and that which is black are lost equally in the grey of it. It is the word by which the depraved steal the virtue of the good, by which the weak steal the might of the strong, by which the fools steal the wisdom of the sages.
The foundation for objectivism is laid as rational selfishness is advocated. The sacred meaning of existence is in indulging one's ego. Not for people that see value in altruism! Also, libertarian views are noticeable as she values personal freedom and self-reliance above anything else.
And the essence of complete freedom is deliverance from the influence of others. Can help but think that her appeal is built upon psychological trauma from group oppression intertwined with wounded self-worth and need for the approval of egotistical worldview.
To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else. Rand also considers the idea of falseness and the impossibility of unconditional love. For her, love to be true and authentic has to be conditional. I shall choose friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters. And I shall choose only such as please me, and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.
Besides farfetched ideas and unrefined philosophy, the storyline was unimaginative, with substantial plot holes, and world-building unconvincing. It is a short novel but much more could have been done, and I read writers that did wonders in fewer pages.
If Rand concepts get more complex and advanced in later books as it is said, I think I would like to read them, knowing the level of influence she had and the controversy she sparked. Dec 26, Heather rated it really liked it Shelves: old-favorites. This book really helped me get my self esteem back together. This was my mantra going into college I think it got me through a lot of BS. It is not bad to remind yourself of the following things every once in a while My hands. My spirit.
My sky. My forest. This earth of mine. What must I say besides? These are the words. This is the answer. I stand here on the summit of the mountain. I lift my head and I spread my arms.
This, my body and This book really helped me get my self esteem back together. This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction. It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth.
It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgement of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.
Many words have been granted me, and some are wise, and some are false, but only three are holy: "I will it! They point in but one direction. They point to me. I know not if this earth on which I stand is the core of the universe or if it is but a speck of dust lost in eternity. I know not and I care not.
For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose. Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs.
I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. I am a man. This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before! I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them.
The fortune of my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to the winds as alms for the poor of the spirit. I guard my treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. And the greatest of these is freedom. Nov 06, Lyn rated it liked it. But Rand may have been better adapted to writing shorter fiction because this one packs a lean, economical and hungry punch. Dystopian but told like a fable, this is a serious work that works on multiple levels.
Very good. View all 5 comments. Jul 05, Jonny rated it did not like it. Of all the dystopian novels I have read, this one felt like one of the least inspired. The characters are one-dimensional, the story lacks context altogether, and is entirely made to support Rand's liberal philosophies. Sure, it's really short--so is Animal Farm, but that is a story with depth. Ironically, they both claim to be about Soviet Russia--or at least the author's experience with such.
I hope I can claim that my reasoning for disliking this book has more to do with its content, and less Of all the dystopian novels I have read, this one felt like one of the least inspired. I hope I can claim that my reasoning for disliking this book has more to do with its content, and less to do with the Ayn Rand's complete and utter ignorance.
Jul 25, Jill rated it did not like it Shelves: fiction , society , criticism. Ayn Rand was the most overrated writer I can't even call her a philosopher of the 20th century, and a great gaping asshole to boot. This book is yet another to support those facts. View all 4 comments. Feb 07, Amy rated it liked it.
A truly interesting read, Ayn Rand's book holds a captivating narrative. But as I watched the character swerve from the absolute collective to an absolute, egocentric conclusion, I ended up pitying the hero and his hapless companion for stumbling upon the wrong conclusion upon which they would base the rest of their existence.
And what happened to "The Golden One" his much less assertive true love? All I could see was that for all the hero's self realization, his mate was merely a follower and A truly interesting read, Ayn Rand's book holds a captivating narrative.
All I could see was that for all the hero's self realization, his mate was merely a follower and a worshiper of his fantastic, glowing sacred "I". I am sorry to say Ayn Rand started with a great idea of individualism and ended in the trainwreck of selfish isolation. Jun 20, Roman Struass rated it it was amazing.
I really liked this book. I think it conveys Rand's message better that he more well known books. The characters and the story are far more interesting. Very inspiring. Nov 02, Kevin Kuhn rated it really liked it Shelves: science-fiction.
I actually read a recently printed graphic novel version of Anthem adapted by Jennifer Grossman and illustrated by Dan Parsons did many Star Wars graphic novels. Rand originally wrote this dystopia sci fi novella back in the late 's.
It's given a beautiful, but somewhat dark and gritty visual interpretation by Parsons, that made it easy and fun to read. I've read Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged in the past, both good, but somewhat laborious reading.
I read this in about thirty minutes and I actually read a recently printed graphic novel version of Anthem adapted by Jennifer Grossman and illustrated by Dan Parsons did many Star Wars graphic novels. I read this in about thirty minutes and it felt like cheating, getting through an Ayn Rand work in that little time!
However, it might be the most pointed Rand work, emphasizing her beliefs in such short order. The plot itself is straight-forward. The planet has nearly experience destruction at the hands of nuclear? Mankind rises in a 'great rebirth' only though an extreme authoritarian world order that worships 'We' at the complete expense of indvidual freedom. Individuals are not allowed to read, think, choose their occupation, or even love.
This keeps society in near perpetual dark ages for an extended time, with only a revolutionary breakthru coming in the form of candle making!!! A man and woman dare to break free and I'll stop there to avoid any spoilers.
As an allegory it's effective, although somewhat heavy-handed. It hammers on the point that if we take socialism too far, we give up too many freedoms and destroy our ability to create, grow, and even love. I don't disagree with the central theme, except to say life isn't that simple. We have to have some level of social order and give up some freedoms to have peace and to support the less fortunate, etc..
The trick is what is right level? That's not answered here. However, it's a great reminder that we cannot lose our basic individual freedoms and people do occasionally forget that.
We cannot lose 'I' due to the complete worship of 'We'! You have prohibited a great cover of this novel from showing here on goodreads. The cover I speak of looks like this: five ghostly apparitions stand forlornly, one is reaching toward a light that looks as if it is an exploding star; they all have chains on their wrists; the far right figure, the only woman, is tenderly reaching for the hand of the man trying to grasp the light; a pitch black background acts as a backdrop.
It is the perfect cover for this novel. It tells so much without revealing anything that is unless you have read the novel. Okay, now on to the book. ANTHEM by Ayn Rand is a novel set in a far-off post apocalyptic future, in a world where technology has been relegated into the land of myth and fancy. People of this world are no longer given birth names; they are given a name according to the cohort they were born into. It is a world where the individual is less than the collective.
This is the story of Equality In the beginning, they he are destined to be great thinkers. No other cohort in history has thought the way they he do es. But this is not to be. Equality is given the job of Street Sweeper by the Council of Vocations. It is this council that determines what is essential for the collective at the moment.
Equality does a grand job of keeping the streets clean. It is not until they he comes across Liberty , renamed the Golden One, that Equality begins to think outside of the proverbial collective box. Later, when Equality discovers a secret cave which in reality is an abandoned subway tunnel does the meaning of individuality actually begin to take root in their his head. Equality is overwhelmed by this discovery, and wants to share it with the World Council of Scholars. But before they he can do that, it is discovered that they he is not in at curfew.
Equality is taken away to the Palace of Corrective Detention where they he are beaten and tortured and interrogated. Equality never talks, not so much as a whisper. When they he decide to escape, the morning of the meeting for the World Council of Scholars, they he bring the electrical apparatus. When shown the device, the members of the World Council of Scholars shirk back from it in fear. When Equality offers to give the council this gift, they scoff at him and berate them him for thinking not of the brotherhood but of only them self.
Equality refuses to be detained again and runs off into the Uncharted Forest with the device, there they he wander aimlessly, and await the moment a beast tears them to shreds. But it is not a beast that confronts them him ; it is the Golden One that finds them him. When they happen to come across an old cabin, they investigate the relics left behind from the Unimaginable Times, mainly books.
It is at this moment that Equality goes from them to him. With this new knowledge, Equality renames himself, Prometheus. It is also at this time that he gives the Golden One a new name, Gaea. It is at this time that first-person narration takes over. The rest of the novel you will have to read for yourself. For this reader, the premise of this novel is intriguing. The setup and the style in which it is written allows for a fast paced story, packed with delicious nuggets of thought.
Basically, Rand tells the reader to remember this: governments work for the people, not the other way around. Is it a book worth reading eighty plus years after it was published? Does it have all the answers? Not even close. This is a book of ideas. Plot and characterization and setting are shadily written. Perhaps that is the genius of this brief page novel. Perhaps Rand wanted the reader to fill in the gaps with their own struggles against their own government. Regardless, this is a quick read that any reader of science fiction, or any person interested in the struggle between individualism and collectivism should read.
If anything, it should make you think. I should say right up front that I'm not at all familiar with Ayn Rand. I own a couple of her books, but I never read any of them until now. I never studied her in school and I'm not familiar with her philosophies, though I know that they are somewhat controversial and polarizing. And I am not a philosophical type person This is my first experience reading any of her work, and I'm not really all that impressed. I got the lack of individuality theme I should say right up front that I'm not at all familiar with Ayn Rand.
I got the lack of individuality theme right around paragraph two or so, when I realized that Equality wasn't literally referring to multiple people when he said "we" but just to himself. And so it wasn't that hard to predict where this was going. Maybe it's because I've read and seen quite a lot of dystopian themed work in my life, but this came across as very predictable to me.
In fact, bits of it reminded me of Logan's Run and THX , though I do realize that this was written well before both of those. So, this society is based on The Borg the collective, and all existence is supposed to be to toil for the good of the whole.
There's no explanation of how they got to this point and the population is very small, in the thousands, so I'm thinking that since there's mention of a great fire, there must have been a war or nuclear blast or something, and the survivors rebuilt society in the best way that they knew how We need some people to clean up, we need some people to figure stuff out and help rebuild, we need some people to grow food, and some people to cook it, and some people to teach the next generation, and so on.
But somewhere along the line, the people in power decided they liked it, and that limiting individual thought and convincing people that the whole is the only thing that matters, and any not following the rules would be whipped or killed, allowed them to keep it. Just your standard communist cult. I don't necessarily think that socialism or collectivism is inherently bad.
There are many communities that make it work, but when free will, knowledge, self, and choice are banned, and the collective replaces one's identity and purpose, that can be bad. This book illustrates this extreme form, and at the end once the main character discovers his sense of self, he claims that he will never again use the term "we".
I guess I can understand wanting to break away from that concept completely and live truly freely and aware, but it struck me as just as ignorant, because how else will you refer to a group to which you belong by choice?
There's a difference, and that difference matters, because "we" can be a good type of inclusive, and does not necessarily equate to a loss of self. Rand seemed to have strong opinions on this, and that's cool I just don't entirely buy into them. Anyway, I liked that it was journal style, even though it was technically 1st person.
It worked though in this case, because for him, there is no concept of a singular person existing just in their own head, so it's like he assumed from the very beginning that his writings would be read by someone else. I liked that he was also learning about himself as he wrote, so it was kind of like he was explaining things to himself and discovering his own thoughts at the same time. But, once he starts reading at the house, and discovers his sense of self, Rand goes a bit wild via this character.
He definitely doesn't read like a 21 year old, and definitely not a 21 year old who has only had limited education and has been discouraged from thinking and questioning his whole life. His epiphany reads like a lifelong philosophy scholar coached him.
It was a little overwrought at the end. It's just one of those books that will eventually just fade to nothingness or blur together with every other dystopia I've read or will read. There's nothing really compelling here. It was just OK. We shall be sentenced to ten years in the Palace of Corrective Detention if it be discovered. But this matters not. It matters only that the light is precious and we should not waste it to write when we need it for that work which is our crime.
Nothing matters save the work, our secret, our evil, our precious work. Equality tells us he is a sinner and criminal. But what crimes has he committed? Being alone, writing, having personal preferences. Intelligent and inquisitive, Equality longs to become a scientist and devote his life to discovery and invention.
Instead, he is beaten by his teachers and assigned the life work of street sweeper. He first sees her working the fields with the women from the House of the Peasants.
Anthem depicts the evils to which collectivism leads when implemented consistently. People are told when to wake, when to eat, when to work, when to sleep. Enslaved to all mankind, they have no freedom to choose their work or anything else. Anthem is not just a forceful indictment of collectivism. When Ayn Rand came to America in , she expected to find alive the ideas of the Founding Fathers: that each individual has the right to live for his own sake and to pursue his own happiness.
But Rand challenges this idea.
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